Muir

Points to the challenge to the “relatively hands-off” approach Britain has traditionally taken in relation to identity and citizenship caused by the threat of terror and the impact of globalization.1

2006 Mori Poll 40% see immigration as a major issue.2

“Sociologists have found that while (contrary to much media speculation) segregation in the UK is not increasing, it does remain high for certain groups in certain parts of the country”3

claims that new identity politics has set itself as against multi-culturalism which is believed to have gone to far and to be responsible for segregation.4

involves a stress on local identity, seen as essential to promote community cohesion.5

social cohesion can be promoted through: (1) tackling discrimination 2) tackling social inequality; many tensions caused when those on low income have to compete for welfare 3) cultural change through shared action (to increase contact), shared values, essentially those of citizenship (through citizenship education/tests, etc...) and shared identities 6

Promoting shared identity seen to have the specific contribution of promoting emotional attachment and a sense of solidarity.7

“Promoting shared identities can be no substitute for the difficult task of reducing social and economic inequalities.”8

Process of promoting shared identity should not be seen as a substitute for multiculturalism, which is a way of respecting difference within common institutions.9

“Rather than focusing on the much contested concept of multiculturalism, those who worry about segregation might do better to focus on the wide array of structural factors that in some parts of the country have allowed parallel lives to develop. These include the housing market, school choice and the poverty and low levels of social mobility that are acute for many minority groups.”10

“It is much easier for new migrant communities to retain links with their homelands or fellow immigrants in other countries than was once the case. In this context the role of institutions such as the BBC or the mainstream press in helping to define our collective experience as a society is much weaker than it was in the past, when many more people watched the same programmes and read the same papers.”11

points to a celebration of democracy, multiculturalism, music, arts, sport and heritage as means of developing a more open sense of British identity.12

1R Muir, The New Identity Politics, (London: IPPR, 2007) 4.

2R Muir, The New Identity Politics, (London: IPPR, 2007) 5.

3R Muir, The New Identity Politics, (London: IPPR, 2007) 5.

4R Muir, The New Identity Politics, (London: IPPR, 2007) 5.

5R Muir, The New Identity Politics, (London: IPPR, 2007) 6.

6R Muir, The New Identity Politics, (London: IPPR, 2007) 7–8.

7R Muir, The New Identity Politics, (London: IPPR, 2007) 8–9.

8R Muir, The New Identity Politics, (London: IPPR, 2007) 10.

9R Muir, The New Identity Politics, (London: IPPR, 2007) 10.

10R Muir, The New Identity Politics, (London: IPPR, 2007) 10

11R Muir, The New Identity Politics, (London: IPPR, 2007) 14.

12R Muir, The New Identity Politics, (London: IPPR, 2007) 15–16.